Chinese president promotes traditional culture

Rice dumplings and dragon-boat races are part of the celebrations during the annual Dragon Boat Festival, but amongst all the customs, the most elegant one is the making and adorning of a sachet.

Mazhuang Village, east China's Jiangsu province is known as the hometown of fragrant sachet makers.

Local sachet makers are able to produce a sachet, containing traditional Chinese medicine, which even attracted Chinese President Xi Jinping to purchase one during his inspection tour in December 2017.

"I want one. These delicately-made sachets help promote China's cultural traditions," said the Chinese president when he made the purchase.

The sachet that Xi Jinping bought was made by a local elder Wang Xiuying aged over 80, who is an inheritor of sachet-making which has been recognized as an intangible cultural heritage.

"The Chinese president told me I've done a good job. He wanted me to continue on this path," said Wang.

Wang Xiuying now teaches the younger generation in the village the skills of making sachet, which is believed to help the wearer stay safe and avoid illnesses.

Photo: Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) purchases a fragrant sachet in Mazhuang Village, east China's Jiangsu province during his inspection tour in December 2017. [Photo: Xinhua]